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Dennis “Possum” Bixby is a Tonganoxie, KS artist specializing is woodcarving.  His works of art have been sold  at Silver Dollar City and Engler’s Block in Branson, MO., and was a featured artist in the Kansas Sampler Festival.  “Possum” as he commonly known by other woodcarvers, specializes in both caricature and realistic human carving as well as hand carved signs.  His work is now being featured at the Annie’s Opry in Tonganoxie, KS and at the Valley Road Woodcarver’s Shop at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO.

“I got my start in woodcarving while on a weekend trip to Branson, MO.  I thought it was neat and they made it look so easy.  I bought a knife and a block of wood against my wife’s wishes. “said Bixby.  He has been carving now for 22 years, has his wife’s full support and has been teaching woodcarving for the last 6 years.  Bixby also operates a mobile sharpening service.  He sharpens Items such as knives, scissors, mower blades, chisels and garden tools.  Restoration work such as cleaning, broken tips, reconditioning of the handles and brass polishing are also available.   Mail order service is available and you can also drop items off at the following locations:

Carvings are often made of basswood or linden wood.  Another name for this is boxwood.  That is because it was used for packaging and crating in the days before corrugated cardboard was invented.  It was relatively cheap and strong in relationship to its weight.  That made it ideal for wagons to carry goods west to the settlers.  It was also used for sewing spools until plastic took its place.  Today you will come into contact with basswood is arts and crafts, pop sickle sticks, and wooden fireplace matches.

It is classified as a hardwood but it is fairly soft and holds detail well.  It generally grows east of the Mississippi River and through the Ozark Mountains.  The best carving wood is grown in Minnesota and Wisconsin where the growing seasons are shorter, the bark is thicker, and the grain is then finer.   If harvested in winter, the wood contains the least amount sap which makes for great carving and improved natural color.